Clothes prop



C. SAUER May 26, 1931.

CLOTHES PROP Filed March 11, 1930 Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONRAD SAUER, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF FIFTY PER CENT T0 JOHN G. DOELFEL, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA ULOTHES PROP Application filed March 11,

My invention relates to clothes props, and more particularly to clothes-line holding devices therefor.

One object of my invention is to provide a line-holding device for clothes props whereby a positive engagement between the prop and a clothesline will be insured.

Another object of my invention is to provide a line-holding device of improvedform which may be easily attached to various types of existing clothes props.

till another object is to provide a clothes prop with a line holding device which will bereifective to hold the clothes line securely, and to grip the line soas to prevent sliding movement of the prop along the line.

One form which my invention may take is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows a clothes-prop with its upper end shown in vertical section, with the line holder supported in the end of the prop; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional detail of the upper end of the prop; Fig. 3 is a plan View thereof, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end view of the line holder.

A prop t of any suitable length is provided with a pointed lower end so that it may more readily enter the ground when in use. A

clothes-line holding device 5 is secured to' the upper end of the prop.

The holding device 5 is preferably formed of a single piece of spring wire which is suitably bent, as hereinafter described, to form a pair of spaced jaw members 7 and 8, each jaw having cooperating side members or clamp a clothesline 9. The jaws 7 and 8 are spaced apart longitudinally of the line, so that the prongs 10 and 11 of the jaw 7 will grip the line at one point and the prongs l0 and 11 of the jaw 8 will grip the line at another point. The upper ends of the aws 7 and 8 are flared outwardly, forming between them a line receiving throat 12.

One end of the wire is provided with a threadedportion 6 and the other end of the wire is bent to form a washer-like eyelet 13 throiwh which the threaded portion 6 is extende By means of the threaded end portion 6, the holding device may be easily and 1930. Serial No. 434,901.

conveniently secured to the end of a prop or pole, the eyelet 13 serving as a seat for rigidly supporting the device thereon. As shown more clearly in Fig. 1, the eyelet 13 is provided with a down-turned lip 15, the eyelet serving as a lock washer to retain the holder against accidental removal from the prop. V p

' In one manner of conveniently making my holding device, the wire maybe bent to form a substantially V-shaped loop'having a closed upper end, the sides of the loop thus formed constitutingthe prongs 10 of the jaws 7 and 8. The wire may then be bent downwardly to form an inverted U-shaped member having parallel sides 11 and the mediate V- shaped loop therebetween, the sides 11 being alternately opposed to the sides 10 of the loop. In this manner, the spaced jaws 7 and 8 will be formed, each having alternately opposed prongs 10 and 11. One end of the wire may be bent inwardly and downwardly to form the end portion 6 which may be threaded, and the otherend of the wire may be bent around the end portion 6 to form the seat 18. V

In using my device the line 9 enters the throat 12, between the upper ends of the prongs 10 and 11, which are normally closed together, as shown in Fig. 4, instead of spread apart as in Fig. 1, and is forced downwardly between the prongs of the jaws 7 and 8. The prongs of the aws yield sufficiently to permit the line entering between them to a 0 point where the line will be securely gripped. prongs 10 and 11, that serve to'receive and Due to the mediate V-shaped loop, the line will be kinked between the alternate prongs n bi;

of thespaced jaws, thereby positively securing the line and preventing sliding move-' Also, the prongs 10 and '11 may ture which may conveniently be attached to any suitable pole or any clothesprop at hand.

Furthermore, a line holder, embodying the principles of my invention, is particularly suitable for use on a wire clothes line, since the ordinarily smooth wire line will be kinked between the alternate flattened prongs of the spaced jaws which will prevent sliding movement of the prop along the line. Also, the corner edges of the flattened prongs will serve to more effectively engage the line to prevent sliding movement of the prop.

I claim as my invention 1. A line-holding device for clothes props, comprising a wire bent to double loop form, with the loops disposed in such relative relation as to constitute gripping jaws, and one end of the wire extending in a straight line and being screw-threaded to permit of it being screwed into a prop, the other end of the wire being bent around the said straightened end to serve as a stop member.

2. A line-holding device for clothes props, comprising a wire bent to double-loop form, with the loops disposed in such relative relation as to constitute gripping aws, and one end of the wire extending in a straight line and being screw-threaded to permit of it being screwed into a prop, the other end of the wire being bent transversely at a point above the screw-threaded portion in position to seat against the surface into which the screw is driven.

3. A spring line-holding device for clothes props comprising a pair of spaced jaws formed from a continuous piece of Wire bent to form substantially vertical side members in opposed relation and connected by an illtermediate bent portion of V form that is diagonally disposed with respect to a line extending between the first-named side mem bers.

In testimony whereof, I, the said CONRAD SAUER, have hereunto set my hand.

CONRAD SAUER. 

